Fury as train fares could soar by inflation-busting 5.8% next year despite services getting WORSE
IT'S SO UNFARE Fury as train fares could soar by inflation-busting 5.8% next year despite services getting WORSE
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TRAIN passengers could face a 5.8 per cent fares rise next year, even though punctuality is the worst since 2020.
It would see the price of a Liverpool-to-Manchester annual flexi ticket jump by £120.30 to £2,195.10.
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Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden says Labour's election promises ring hollow'
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Increases are usually calculated by adding one percentage point to the Retail Price Index figure for inflation — which yesterday hit 4.8 per cent for July.
The RPI is calculated by looking at the prices of 700 products and services but also includes mortgage interest payments and council tax.
Fare rises could see a Woking-to-London season ticket soar by £247 to £4,507.
Meanwhile, punctuality is at its lowest in more than five years.
The Office of Rail and Road found trains reached 66.7 per cent of station stops on time in the year to July 19 — the worst since the year to May 2020.
Labour is nationalising operators as contracts expire, with South Western Railway and c2c now under public ownership.
Ben Plowden of Campaign for Better Transport said: 'The fundamental question for the Government is how to use its role in setting fares policy to deliver a more affordable network and encourage customers.'
Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: 'Labour's election promises ring hollow as passengers are hit with inflation-busting rises on top of cancelled trains, driver shortages and chaos on the network.'
The Department for Transport said an update on fares will be released later this year.
Peak rail fares scrapped by John Swinney
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